it's been interesting because since your article dropped I got to say it has got all the buzz if you are on X if you're on Instagram Tik Tok for the young kids you know that Caitlyn Clark is the time athlete of the year how has your 24 hours been since the Articles dropped it's it's been awesome and just the reaction um obviously people so excited not only about women's basketball but about women's sports and how excited um and deserving not only myself but just women's sports as a whole Caitlyn Clark just became the first WNBA
player to win time athlete of the year but not everyone's cheering sh star with you what's your reaction to Caitlyn Clark winning Time Magazine athlete of the year um I don't think I'm surprised I I'm curious to know who the other candidates were in a completely unexpected but totally not surprising turn of events Cheryl swoops a four-time WNBA champion and now Clark's biggest critic had some Choice words about the win in this video we're breaking down the controversy the backlash and the unexpected way Clark is handling it all Clark had the perfect opportunity for a
comeback instead she did something that left everyone speechless here's why her response is a masterclass in Grace and Leadership and I've grown up a huge women sports fan whether it was basketball whether it was soccer whether it was volleyball you go down the list like I grew up loving it and watching it so um it's pretty special like it doesn't really feel real that I get to be here but um an amazing honor picture this Caitlyn Clark on top of the world after winning time athlete of the year but not everyone's popping champagne enter Cheryl
swoops former WNBA star turned unexpected critic who's stirring up drama on gills Arena podcast the fact that that's the very first WNBA player to ever win Time Magazine athlete of the year is pretty special and my question is like like the criteria is it based off of her performance on the court which yeah she had a great year or is it more about the impact that she had on the game this season instead of congratulating Clark swoops goes on a ramble she questions the very criteria that led to Clark's win I'm trying to understand what
the criteria is swoops says her words dripping with skepticism but swoops doesn't stop there she starts throwing out other names suggesting they're more deserving it's like watching a train wreck in slow motion fans and analysts are left scratching their heads wondering what's really going on here this is just probably just just the impact of the sport a little bit of every I mean it's a little bit of everything MH right so yeah I mean when you think about when you just think about athletes of this year yeah it's her uh the swimmer what s for
Olympics her her performance putes back in there you can put her back in there uh probably LeBron from his his Olympics as we dig deeper into swoops comments a pattern emerges this isn't the first time she's taken shots at Clark remember when Clark broke the NCAA scoring record swoops was right there ready to re on her parade she questioned whether Clark's achievements were really that impressive given the changes in the game since the record was initially set Asia Wilson in there um that was just basketball that well so that's what I'm saying was it just
the performance on the court or it's Global I think it's I think it's everything it's everything what about Asia Wilson she asks it's a moment that leaves everyone listening in disbelief is this just a slip up or is there something more going on here swoops reaction reveals a deeper conflict bubbling beneath the surface it's not just about Clark anymore it's Old Guard versus new star tradition clashing with the future of women's basketball swoops once the face of the sport now finds herself watching from the sidelines as Clark captivates a new generation of fans it just
keeps putting a light on the sport for everybody else to eat and you know sometimes you know just as athletes you know we are competitive by nature and you know we don't like we don't like when someone's getting something that we don't they deserved right when we've been in a game the basketball world is left reeling swoops a player who once inspired countless young athletes including a young Caitlyn Clark back then now comes across as bitter and out of touch her comments spark heated debates on social media with fans and fellow players weighing in on
both sides but here's where it gets really interesting while swoops is busy casting doubt Clark star only seems to shine brighter her record-breaking performances and growing fan base speak volumes the contrast couldn't be clearer one player Looking Backward the other charging full steam ahead into the future of women's basketball well it's been a crazy year um it's it's hard to think about like I was basically just starting my senior year of college at this time last year um and then I graduated I missed my college graduation got drafted here in New York City basically moved
right to Indianapolis and basically start like a whole new chapter of your of your life instantly and you don't really have much time to adjust um but lucky enough I had a really great support system and family around and I'm from the Midwest so um didn't take me too long and but this past year has just been amazing so how does Clark handle this unexpected criticism does she fire back adding fuel to the fire or does she take the high road Rising above the drama Clark's response to this controversy could Define not just her career
but the very future of women's basketball get ready because Clark's about to show us all what she's really made of if you've made it this far and are enjoying the video don't forget to like subscribe and turn on all notifications we know watching this video takes some of your time and we appreciate you now back to the action it's fun to reflect back and think about all the amazing things that I was able to accomplish and the people that I got to do it with I think that's what's made it so special is I've had
my family with me the whole time my friends um amazing teammates amazing coaches and it wouldn't be possible without all of them so just really fortunate remember when we said Clark was about to show us what she's made of well her response to the time award controversy isn't just surpris Rising it's downright revolutionary Clark's handling of this situation is redefining what leadership looks like in women's basketball while swoops is busy questioning her win Clark's out there breaking records and capturing Hearts but how does she respond to the noise does she fire back at her critics
nope Clark takes the high road and it's a move that's left everyone talking the number of Indiana Fever fans I saw in young girls and the way they were lighting up I mean you have represented something so special for the sport but you've drawn eyes to to a game that you've always grown up loving what does that mean to you you know it's it's kind of hard for me to wrap my head around cuz I'm so focused and so competitive and I love the game I love playing I love being in front of the fans
but over the course of probably the last two two and a half years it's all kind of changed where you know it's hard to get a ticket whether we're at home or whether we're on the road in her Time interview Clark doesn't just brush off the controversy she tackles it headon with a level of maturity that's Turning Heads Caitlyn Clark's rise to stardom came with with a refreshing dose of self-awareness a lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been black players this league has kind of been built on them
the more we can appreciate that highlight that talk about that and then you continue to have Brands and companies invest in those players that have made this league incredible I think it's very important I have to continue to try to change that the more we can Elevate black women that's going to be a beautiful thing but Clark doesn't stop there she goes on to highlight the Legends who paved the way for her success and guess who she mentions yep Cheryl swoops herself it's a move that shows Clark's not just a great player she's a Class
Act off the court too thoughts on cayin Clark saying she wants to use her platform to elevate uh black women in the WNBA Have Been instrumental obviously building that League to what it is okay so what's the what's the Clark's response is more than just taking the high road it's a master class in how to handle criticism with Grace and turn a potentially negative situation into a positive one she's not just defending her own achievements she's elevating the entire conversation around women's basketball I remember my first WNBA game um one of the best memories of
my childhood and I think very influential in wanting to be a professional basketball player wanting to be a great person um having those people to look up to and want to be like one day so um I just try to embody that every single day and I feel like I have good perspective on like basketball isn't my everything like yeah I love it and I get to do it and it's given me a lot of really great opportunities but at the same time you know win or loss I feel like I try to be the
same person the contrast between Clark's approach and swoops comments couldn't be clearer while swoops questions and criticizes Clark chooses to celebrate an uplift it's a strategy that's winning her even more fans and silencing her critics in the most effective way possible but don't think for a second that Clark's kindness is weakness her words carry weight and her actions speak volumes she's proving that you don't need to tear others down to build yourself up in fact by raising those who came before her Clark is securing her own place in basketball history know how you feel or
how you respond to some of those criticisms when you have to deal with something that it's really not your problem like I feel like it's them looking in a mirror a little bit but it still comes down on your shoulders I feel like I always have had really good perspective on everything that's kind of happened in my life whether that's been good whether that's been bad um and then obviously coming to the WNBA like I've said I feel like I've earned every single thing that's happened to me over the course of my career as the
dust settles on this controversy one thing is clear Clark's response has turned what could have been a divisive moment into a unifying one for women's basketball she's shown that it's possible to be both a fierce competitor on the court and a gracious leader off it but also I grew up a fan of this league from a very young age like my favorite player was Maya Moore like I know what this league was about um and like I said like it's only been around 25 plus years so I know there's been so many amazing black women
that have been in this league and continuing to up uplift them I think is very important and um that's something I'm very aware of um and like I said like I try to just be real and authentic and you know share my truth and I think that's very easy for me like I'm very comfortable in my own skin um and that's kind of been how it is my entire life but the story doesn't end here Clark's classy comeback has set the stage for an even bigger conversation how will the rest of the basketball World react
to this display of sportsmanship and maturity get ready because the responses are about to pour in and they might just surprise you and you'll never be able to make everyone happy and someone that knows at the age of 22 like let's go I I mean I think I have good perspective on that and like I said in the article um which turned out amazing I thought it was great um I said I feel like one of my best skills is just blocking things out like I don't I don't really the only opinions I really care
about are the people that I love my teammates my coaches the people inside of our locker room um the people that I see every every single day and I know have the you know my best interest at heart too Clark's win and swoops reaction didn't just make headlines they ignited a firestorm in the basketball World opinions are flying faster than a Clark three-pointer and everyone's got something to say let's break down the reactions in Clark's Corner we've got a whole Squad of supporters fans are flooding social media with love for the young star they're praising
her Grace Under Pressure and calling out swoops for what they see as sour grapes one fan tweeted Clark's response shows she's already a legend in the making swoops could learn a thing or two about sportsmanship how would you describe what's next for Caitlyn Clark coming off of of a rookie of the year coming off of breaking records and I mean there's so it seems like there's so much potential like I keep saying you're only 22 but I just wonder how that translates to you what the future looks like so how's all this drama going to
affect Clark's WNBA future that's the million dooll question some worry the controversy might put extra pressure on her next season others think it's just fueling more of Clark's fire for an even bigger sopore season perhaps an MVP award is on the horizon but here's the reality no matter which side of the debate you're on there's one thing nobody can argue with Clark's impact on the game WNBA ticket sales are through the roof TV ratings for women's college basketball have never been higher people who've never watched a women's game before are tuning in just to see
Clark play the numbers don't lie Clark's not just a player she's a phenomenon there's no denying she's changing the game I'm just scratching the surface of the things I want to accomplish and you know I'm 22 I'm still figuring out life I'm still figuring out where everything's going to go and um you know I love basketball and basketball has brought me so many amazing things and that will continue to be probably my first Passion and everything that I enjoy and hopefully once basketball ends I can still find things that I'm really passionate about and can
do hopefully be an owner of a sports team one day or open a restaurant I don't know something fun a little less stressful maybe maybe a coffee shop or something I don't know so what does all this mean for women's basketball well that's where things get really interesting because this isn't just about one player or one award anymore it's about the future of the sport itself and that future it's looking brighter than ever how do you see kind of the impact that you're having on the game itself um especially the women's game like we see
now more kids taking the shot you know 30 feet like you've come in and done something unique to the game that we haven't seen can you describe what that is while all eyes are on Clark and swoops a silent Revolution is brewing in women's basketball it's a transformation so profound it might make this current controversy seem like a mere footnote in history are you ready to see the bigger picture what people love the most is just the emotion that I play with I think it's easy to connect with I think they can feel that I'm
real on the court um but also when I step off the court like I try to be like very authentic and very genuine and make as much time for people as I can um like I never want to Big Time anybody or whatever it is because like I said I was just that young girl that was screaming for an autograph and that takes 10 seconds of somebody's time so um try to do that as much as I can but um yeah this Clark swoops drama isn't just about two players it's shining a spotlight on the
changing landscape of women's basketball we're seeing a clash between the Old Guard and the new wave of talent and it's reshaping the entire sport but with this success comes challenges the WNBA is at a Crossroads how do they capitalize on this new found attention how do they balance honoring their Legends while embracing new stars it's a tricky tight rope to walk just that you can achieve your dreams like this is something I always dreamed of maybe I didn't dream it on this magnitude of being here at this event with time um I didn't really write
that down but obviously you know I was always somebody that dreamed and wanted to achieve things and my parents never told me you know you can't it was always like go try like they probably knew at times I would fail but they let me fail and I thought I think that taught me a lot of lessons about myself and about just life in general um and I think that's helped me become the woman I am the basketball player I am and hopefully the leader I am and just continuing continuing to grow in that and let's
not forget the pressure on Clark herself she's not just carrying the hopes of her team she's carrying the future of the entire league on her shoulders that's a lot for anyone to handle but here's where it gets really exciting Clark's impact goes beyond just basketball she's changing how people see women's sports as a whole young girls are picking up basketballs and droves dreaming of being the next Caitlyn Clark and it's not just kids adults are taking notice too the conversation around women's sports is Shifting and Clark is at the center of it all along the
way I know that you've met so many people and you've talked about the young women before but are there some encounters or interactions that have stuck with you over time so what's next for Clark in the league well that's the million-dollar question will the WNBA be able to keep this momentum going will other young Stars emerge in Clark's wake and how will the league handle the inevitable Growing Pains that come with such rapid growth one thing's for sure despite all the controversy Clark's impact on women's basketball is undeniably positive She's Not Just is changing the
game she's elevating it we're not just watching basketball anymore we're witnessing history in the making the game is evolving right before our eyes and we've got front row seats to the show the future of women's basketball is here and it's brighter than ever there's a lot of things that just really put life into perspective whether it's somebody that is sick or a young kid that was in the hospital and their you know one request was to come watch your game and come Courtside and get to meet you and that takes 2 minutes of your time
and that's going to make their entire life or whether it's the people that have signs that say I've traveled from Canada or wherever it is they've traveled Miles and Miles spent a lot of money to have two hours where they're probably never going to react interact with you and just are watching you on a court um I always try to remind myself of that going into a game is like people are spending a lot of time money and resources to come here and like enjoy this experience with you like Caitlyn Clark's athlete of the Year
win isn't just a personal achievement it's a watershed moment for women's basketball despite the controversy Clark's Grace Under Fire shows she's more than just a scoring machine she's a leader who's changing the game both on and off the court Clark's impact goes beyond stats and highlights she's bringing new fans to women's basketball driving up ticket sales and inspiring a whole generation of young players her ability to handle criticism with class sets a powerful example for athletes in all sports as fans we're not just watching games anymore we're witnessing the evolution of women's basketball in real
time Clark's rise marks the beginning of a new era one where women's sports command the spotlight they deserve the game will never be the same and that's something worth celebrating do you agree let us know in the comments like subscribe and turn on all notifications so you never miss out click the video on the screen and we will see you in the next one
